Public Opinion and Political Behaviors
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Public Opinion and Political Behaviors
Unit IIA
American Political Culture
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Political Culture
A set of basic values and beliefs How political and economic life ought to
be carried out Shared by most citizens Subcultures– Distinctions and patterns based on region,
religion, ethnicity, culture
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Basic American Values
Liberty - individual freedoms guaranteed Equality - each citizen treated equally Majority Rule - democracy, but minority rights assured Limited Government - prohibitions on government to
ensure will of the people Civic Duty - a citizen’s responsibility to the government
and community Private Property - capitalist system and guaranteed
ownership
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Political Socialization
The process which a citizen acquires one’s sense of political identity
Learning and becoming aware of the values and beliefs the political system is based
Influences shape political identity from childhood to adulthood
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Influences on Political Identity
Family and Home Education and Schools Group Affiliations Demographic Factors Mass Media Opinion Leaders Events
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The Family and Home Arguably the strongest
and lasting influence on one’s political identity
Strongest when both parents identify with same political party
60% of adults still had party affiliation of parents
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Education and Schools
Schools and colleges tend to make citizens more liberal
More access to information
Atmosphere conducive for exploration of new ideas
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Religion
Social Status– Catholics and Jews
suffered discrimination– Democrats appealed to
them and gained their support
Religious Tradition– Evangelical protestants
emphasize personal salvation therefore more conservative in social policies
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Gender
Gender Gap - difference in political views between men and women
Women tend to vote Democrat; pro-choice issues
Men more conservative; voting more Republican
2000 Election– 55% women voted Gore (D)– 54% men voted Bush (R)
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Social Class
Lower-class– Limited education– Tend to vote Democrat, but low
voter turnout
Working-class (blue-collar)– Tend to vote Democrat, but
subject to other influences
Middle-class (white-collar)– Tend to be split and dependent
on other influences
Upper-class– Tend to vote Republican with
pro-business policies
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Race and Ethnicity
Whites vote more Republican– Pro-business
Blacks vote more Democrat– Affirmative action
Hispanics vote more Democrat– immigration
Asians vote more Republican– Conservative culture
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Region New England - more liberal Southeast/Bible Belt - more
conservative Midwest - more
conservative Pacific - more liberal Urban - more
liberal/Democratic Rural - more
conservative/Republican
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Media
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Opinion Leaders
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on civil rights
The Dalai Lama on human rights
Norman Braman launched largest municipal recall election
Barack Obama became first black president
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Events
President Lyndon Johnson signs Civil Rights Act of 1964– Prompts Southern
Democrats to shift Republican
9/11 – Americans become
more patriotic and more willing to limit freedoms for sake of security
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Cleavages in Public Opinion
Public opinions are never absolute and always overlap
Examples:– Blacks vote Democrat due to support on
affirmative action and equality policies, but most blacks are against gay marriage
– Cubans vote Republican despite majority of Hispanics voting Democrat for immigration policies
– A blue-collar worker would vote Democrat for pro-union policies, but votes Republican due to conservative religious traditions